Thursday, 10 March 2022

Fire services funding

Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:25): My question is again for the Minister for Emergency Services. Minister, according to a ministerial brief released under freedom of information, in June 2020 the Treasurer approved the release of $38.867 million in 2019–20 and $46.502 million ongoing to the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, despite the ministerial brief noting the MFB had yet to provide the detailed information to justify the release. I therefore ask: has that information been subsequently provided, or is it the practice that $85 million is released to the MFB without the evidence to justify it?

Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:26): Mr Davis, the construction of and innuendo in your question are unwarranted. This is a relatively straightforward matter. The money was held in contingency pending the details for fire service reform and was released to the MFB accordingly upon finalisation of these arrangements. Something quite similar happens in any type of MOG change, and it was provided in the same period that we provided an additional $126 million to CFA to support them with their new set-up in relation to being a dedicated volunteer-only organisation.

Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:26): I ask, then: will the minister release the detailed information on which those allocations were made?

Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:27): I have answered the question. There is no more to say.